Bransgore Community Church

TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN

Happily Give

Giving is not a side issue of being a Christian but a fundamental reflection of our faith, trust and the place of God in our lives. It is only by being liberated in our giving that we can experience true freedom from the hold our materialistic world has on us. Jesus encourages us to ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these (material) things will be given to you as well’.

Helpful guidelines

Give First fruits

Give God the first portion of your income. By doing that you constantly remember God's ownership of your life. (Proverbs 3:9)

Give Proportionately

Give in proportion to the income you receive, not a specific pound amount. If you earn £100, a tithe (10%) would be £10. If you earn £100,000, your proportionate gift would be £10,000. God sees the £10 gift just as important and meaningful as the £10,000 gift. Proportionate giving challenges both the rich and the poor. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Give Sacrificially

At times God asks you to give until you can truly feel the giving. Giving sacrificially usually includes one of the following: a rearrangement of priorities, a change in lifestyle, or a forfeit of something valued. When you give sacrificially, you give your best. (2 Corinthians 8: 2-3)

Give Regularly

The Bible tells us to give 'on the first day of every week.' While money may be tight sometimes, for the most part, the failure to give is a spiritual problem. It is hard to imagine God accepting the excuses conjured up about not honouring Him with your treasures. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Give Cheerfully

Receiving is great, but the exhilaration is greater when you are able to give to another person. The Holy Spirit uses your giving to deepen your faith in Christ. (2 Corinthians. 9:7)

Give Quietly

Your purpose should be to please God, not to be seen by others. (Matt. 6:1)

Tithe

Tithing is the practice of honouring God with one tenth (10%) of your income. God is not concerned about the size of the gift, but the motive for it. (Gen. 28: 1 0-22) Tithing is giving God a portion of your best, not your leftovers.